A few years ago, I was leading worship at a church overseas at a service they called “Hunger Night.” It was my first time at this church and I didn’t really know what to expect. Once I started leading worship, however, the hunger for Jesus in the room skyrocketed and we went places in the Spirit that I hadn’t been to that often in corporate worship times. Their hunger put a demand on the anointing in a way that I wasn’t used to. It pulled greatness out of me and called me higher as a worship leader.

I remember one night, scrolling through Instagram, a guy’s post of his song came up. As I watched, I could feel what he was saying. He sang with such conviction and authenticity that it moved me. To be clear, he wasn’t actually worshipping, but he was expressing his heart. And expressing it in true authenticity. I thought—this is exactly what “in truth” is.

In John 4, Jesus said some profound things about worship. Out of all the things that God is looking for (which the Bible doesn’t list a ton of things), He is looking for worshippers. True worshippers. The kind that worship in spirit and in truth.  But what does that mean? I don’t know about you, but I want to be the kind of person God is looking for. So let’s look closer at what it means to worship in spirit and in truth.

Every place has a culture. The dictionary defines a culture as “the sum of attitudes, customs, and beliefs that distinguishes one group of people from another.” In other words, a culture is the “norm” for any given group of people. What is acceptable in some places may not be acceptable in others. How do you determine that? Culture. So, what’s the culture of the kingdom of God? Are we carrying the characteristics of kingdom citizens?

Do you remember when you saw the trailer for your favorite movie and couldn’t wait for it to come out? Then on the day of the premiere, people would dress up as their favorite characters and eagerly await the door of the theater to open. I imagine this is how it was when Jesus preached and demonstrated the kingdom. The prepared ones were excited to enter this kingdom Jesus spoke of. Then the day came when the door was opened—through the cross—and people officially entered the kingdom of God! This is the gospel of the kingdom.

There’s a key that makes way to the Kingdom of Heaven—one that many overlook or even resist. Yet, without it, you remain at the threshold, unable to step into the fullness of God’s reign. To reject it is to reject His will, but to embrace it is to pass from oppression to liberty, from darkness to light. This is the turning point. Everything changes here.

The message that Jesus preached was the gospel of the kingdom of God. He didn’t preach the gospel of salvation—that He died on the cross to redeem us and rose from the grave—because He hadn’t done it yet! His message was the good news of the kingdom of God. If that was Jesus' primary message, then we must understand what it means. After all, if we’re to seek first the kingdom (Matthew 6:33), we should know what we’re seeking!

We often think of trials as the things that wear us down, break us, or introduce fear into our lives. But what if trials don’t put weakness in us—what if they simply reveal what was already there? Scripture shows us that the real battle we face isn’t external; it’s internal. The enemies we see on the outside often serve to expose the greater enemy within. Let’s take a deeper look at how fear, not external opposition, is often the real giant standing in our way.

I believe there is much more that God wants to do during our worship services. We’ve settled for singing a few songs and moving on, but God wants to manifest Himself! In Elijah’s day, the altar of the Lord was broken down because of idolatry. He repaired it, then called on the Lord, and fire fell. Many people want the fire to fall, however, repairing the altar preceded the fire. The altar represents worship. It’s time to repair our impaired worship, bring it back to the biblical standard, and watch as God responds in power!

What is the secret to answered prayer? Many people long to experience the power of God in their prayer life, yet they often find themselves frustrated when they don’t see immediate results. Some may wonder if God is even listening. But Scripture gives us a clear answer on how to see answered prayer…and it may not be what you expect.

Have you ever heard someone speak and their words carried weight to them? They may have said something simple, yet it came with such depth. Or have you heard someone sing and felt like you were brought into a whole realm of emotion in a moment? Their singing had more than a sound, it had a substance. In the realm of the kingdom, that substance points to the depth of one’s devotion to God and the anointing they carry. God wants to raise up people who carry weight. If you want to be that kind of person, keep reading.

There’s a sound that God wants to release in the earth. It’s a cry of intercession, a cry of desperation, a cry of victory. It’s a sound that breaks through, a sound that shifts things in the Spirit, a sound that grabs the attention of Jesus. It’s a sound that prepares the way of the Lord. Can you feel the stirring? Can you feel the shift? God is awakening an army to call upon the Lord. It’s time to cry out to God!

Just like a car needs fuel to keep moving forward, your relationship with God needs fuel to keep burning. Building upon the foundational habits of praise, prayer, and scripture, here are a few more to help stoke and sustain the fire of God burning in our hearts. As you make these your norm, watch as your relationship with God goes to new levels.

The start of a new year is a natural time for self-reflection and re-evaluating your habits. After all, your habits reveal what truly matters to you—often more than you realize. Since you’re reading this, I can assume you desire to either ignite or sustain your fire for God. Who wants to live lukewarm, going through the motions when the fire of the Holy Spirit is available to ignite every part of your life? In this article, I’ll share simple yet powerful keys to keep the flames of passion for Jesus blazing strong. Get ready to step into a fresh season of fiery devotion!

This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, there’s a detail in the story that often goes unnoticed—but it’s one that speaks directly to our deepest hunger. It’s a reminder that the Christmas story isn’t just about a baby in a manger; it’s about the life-giving nourishment He came to offer. From the place He was born to the humble feeding trough He was placed in, there’s a powerful message about food, sustenance, and what truly satisfies our souls. It’s a reminder that some hunger goes beyond the body—it’s the longing of the heart.

On the first Christmas, Jesus entered a busy, preoccupied world that had no room for Him in the inn. It’s much the same today—amid the holiday rush, it’s easy to crowd out what matters most. Have you made room for Jesus and His Word in your life?

Praise is something virtually every church does to open their services—yet, when was the last time you heard a series of sermons on praise? I don’t mean to point the blame at anyone, I just mean to point out the need to understand one of the most important acts of our faith. In this post, we’ll dive into the biblical meaning of praise, its role in completing worship, and how it creates a space for God’s presence to dwell and move among us.

Worship and praise—these two words are often used interchangeably in Christian settings, but they have deep, distinct meanings that point us to a profound relationship with God. When we come together for worship or raise our voices in praise, it’s not just a ritual or an event; it has to be more than songs. It’s a heart posture, a response, and a way of life. Understanding the true essence of worship and praise can change how we engage with God, both individually and as a community. 

The following is an excerpt from my new book “Clothed With Power: An Introduction to Walking in the Power of God.” This section is taken from Chapter 2 “Why Do We Need Power?”

God wants His church baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire! One translation of the Bible says that when the Holy Spirit clothes us with power, we are “fully equipped” (Luke 24:49 AMP). An old tradition from Yosemite National Park has something to say to us about Pentecost fire.